+IMPACT MAGAZINE ISSUE 22

PROJECT
Located in Richmond Park in Milnerton, Cape
Town, Rubicon’s new headquarters combines
its operations, which were previously spread
across six different locations, into one customdesigned
multi-million-rand facility that includes a
7 532sqm warehouse and 1 780sqm of offices incorporating
a 521sqm showroom. Positioned among blue-chip
neighbours, including the new Takealot pickup point
and distribution facility, the company’s new business base
benefits from great exposure and also provides flexibility
to accommodate future growth.
Underlying the building’s elegant façade is a highly
energy-efficient design. Its envelope is sculpted to
minimise heat gain and loss by considering space planning,
window-wall ratios and insulation. Adding to its green
design benefits, the building uses effective systems for
its operation. Working together with sustainable building
consultancy ecocentric, the building was designed to
qualify for an EDGE Advanced Certification, a tool
developed by the International Finance Corporation
(IFC) to provide quantifiable and scaleable green building
standards through a user-friendly online software
platform. GBCSA has partnered with IFC to facilitate
certification using the EDGE tool in Africa.
GIVING IT THE EDGE
“For a building to qualify for EDGE Advanced Certification,
it needs to achieve a minimum of 40% savings in energy,
and 20% in water and materials,” says Iphendule Ndzipho,
architectural and sustainability consultant at ecocentric.
“This goes beyond the 20% in all three categories that is
required for the Standard Certification.”
The approximate saving of 40% in energy is just one
element where the development breaks new ground.
“With regards to energy, the ‘big ticket’ items that pushed
the project to qualify for EDGE Advanced include lowwattage
LED lights, a high-efficiency HVAC system and
solar PV panels,” says Ndzipho. “The fact that around
40% of the building’s annual energy use will be renewable
energy is fantastic, as this measure will significantly
reduce the utilities cost.”
Johann Prinsloo, development manager at Atterbury,
adds that the PV system, which covers a significant portion
of the building’s extensive rooftop has been specifically
designed to match the energy consumption of the building,
ensuring that most of the solar power is consumed by it.
“Surplus solar energy is charged into a central battery that
can power the building at night or during loadshedding
events,” he says. “Rubicon was proud to be able to supply
all the major components of the PV system from within
its own basket of products.”
BACK TO BASICS
“The features that have achieved this significant result
are relatively ‘simple’, and yet yield extremely positive
results. The lesson is that achieving sustainability is not
all that complicated,” says Ndzipho. “And yet, it must
be stated that working with a developer like Atterbury,
where sustainability principles are already deeply
entrenched, makes the process smooth and seem easier
than it would be otherwise.”
The water saving percentage of 20% can be attributed
to a rooftop rainwater harvesting system, where a
significant portion of the total roof area is designed to
Rubicon is proud to be
leading the way in contributing
towards a more sustainable,
technology-driven future.
POSITIVE IMPACT ISSUE 22
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